“Soon afterward Jesus went with His disciples to the village of Main, and a large crowd followed Him. A funeral procession was coming out as He approached the village gate. The young man who had died was a widow’s only son, and a large crowd from the village was with her.
When the Lord saw her, His heart overflowed with compassion. ‘Don’t cry!’ He said. Then He walked over to the coffin and touched it, and the bearers stopped. ‘Young man,’ He said, ‘I tell you, get up.’ Then the dead boy sat up and began to talk! And Jesus gave him back to his mother.” —Luke 7:11-15 NLT
places.
P
L
A
C
E
S
“Soon afterward Jesus went with His disciples to the village of Nain, and a large crowd followed Him.” —Luke 7:11 NLT
“A funeral procession was coming out as Jesus approached the village gate. The young man who had died was a widow’s only son, and a large crowd from the village was with her.” —Luke 7:12 NLT
“The Lord is close to all whose hearts are crushed by pain.” —Psalm 34:18 TPT
“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me.” —Psalm 23:4 NKJV
“When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you. For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.” —Isaiah 43:2-3 NLT
“When the Lord saw her…” —Luke 7:13 NLT
“When the Lord saw her, His heart overflowed with compassion.” —Luke 7:13 NLT
“Come to Me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.” —Matthew 11:28 NLT
“Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.” —1 Peter 5:7 NIV
“‘Don’t cry!’ He said. Then He walked over to the coffin and touched it, and the bearers stopped.” —Luke 7:13-14 NLT
“‘Young man, I tell you, get up.’ Then the dead boy sat up and began to talk! And Jesus gave him back to his mother.” —Luke 7:14-15 NLT
Jesus transforms…
Discussion Questions
How does the story of Jesus raising the widow’s son from the dead illustrate his power to transform places of deep pain and loss in our lives?
In what ways have you experienced Jesus’ presence bringing comfort and healing to areas of your life that were once filled with heartache and hurt?
What does it mean for Jesus to be Lord over our difficult circumstances, and how does his lordship bring transformation to those situations?
How can we cultivate a greater awareness of Jesus’ presence in the midst of our pain and difficulty?
How does Jesus’ embrace of the widow in this passage reflect his desire to embrace us in our times of need, offering us salvation and hope?
Prayer Guide
Opening Prayer: Begin by inviting the Holy Spirit to guide your time together. You can pray for openness to God’s word and for hearts to be receptive to His leading.
Reflective Prayer: Take a moment of silence to reflect on the ways Jesus has transformed areas of pain and hurt in your life. Invite group members to silently offer their own reflections to God.
Prayer of Thanksgiving: Offer a prayer of thanksgiving for the ways Jesus has been present in your lives, bringing comfort, awareness, and healing to places of difficulty. Encourage group members to express their gratitude to God as well.
Intercessory Prayer: Pray for those who are currently experiencing pain, heartache, and difficulty. Ask God to be present with them, to bring comfort and healing, and to reveal His transforming power in their lives.
Prayer for Application: Pray that each person in the group would apply the truths discussed today to their own lives. Ask God to help them rely on His presence, lordship, comfort, embrace, and salvation in the midst of their struggles.
Closing Prayer: Close your time together by praying for God’s blessing on each person present. Ask Him to continue to work in and through them, transforming their lives for His glory.